Prospective Students: How to Apply for Need-Based Financial Aid

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Prospective Students: How to Apply for Need-Based Financial Aid

2012-13 Financial Aid Brochure

Gettysburg College continues to honor a long-standing commitment to put the College within the financial reach of all students desiring to engage themselves in our dynamic community.

This commitment is recognized by Gettysburg's inclusion in the Princeton Review and USA Today's "Best Value Colleges" list as well as being named one of the "best values" among American private liberal arts colleges by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

Bloomberg Businessweek listed Gettysburg College among its Fifty Affordable Colleges with the Best Return on Investment (ROI). The list included a wide variety of institutions, from large state institutions to engineering schools, as well as a few small, private liberal arts colleges like Gettysburg.

Required Financial Aid Application Forms & Deadlines

Early Decision I- November 15
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
(file FAFSA after Jan 1 and before Feb 15)
Early Decision II- January 15
FAFSA
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
Regular Decision- February 15
FAFSA
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

Tips for completing the PROFILE (PDF).

Gettysburg's Financial Aid Application Codes

The Gettysburg College Code for the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is 2275.
The Gettysburg College federal school code for the FAFSA is 003268.

Information for Deposited Students

Once a student is accepted to Gettysburg and chooses to enroll in the Class of 2017, they must submit the following items by mail, fax (717-337-8555) or e-mail (finaid@gettysburg.edu) to the Gettysburg College Office of Financial Aid to finalize their financial aid award.

Deadlines: April 15 for Early Decision, May 1 for Regular Decision

Submit copies of 2012 W-2 Forms for Parent(s) and Student
Submit copies of 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcript for Parent(s) and Student - this is different than a copy of your tax return.
(request using information for the primary filer, the first person listed on tax return)
Submit the Gettysburg College Verification Worksheet (PDF)

Financial Aid awards are preliminary until all of the required documents are submitted. If there are significant changes in family or financial information from what was submitted on the FAFSA and PROFILE, the Office of Financial Aid will review a student’s award and determine if adjustments are necessary.

How is need-based financial aid calculated?

The FAFSA and PROFILE analyses consider all sources of taxed and untaxed income as well as necessary family expenditures such as taxes, standard cost of living, and extraordinary medical expenses.

Other important variables include family size and the number of children enrolled in post-secondary education. The student's income and assets are also evaluated

Renewing Financial Aid

Current Gettysburg students must reapply for need-based financial aid each year by April 15. If family financial circumstances remain consistent, students can expect to receive a simliar need-based financial aid award.

For the 2012-2013 Academic Year, continuing students must submit only the FAFSA. Students and parent(s) do not need to submit W-2 statements, copies of tax returns or the Gettysburg College Verification Worksheet (unless later requested to do so by the Office of Financial Aid as part of the verification process) .

The CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is not required for continuing students;academic merit scholarships are automatically renewed annually based upon academic performance at Gettysburg.

What if my family financial circumstances change?

When financial circumstances change, the Office of Financial Aid is available to help students and their families locate funding sources and understand the options available to them.

Advice may include educating a student regarding the financial aid process, recalculating a family's eligibility based on documented financial changes, or counseling a family regarding available loans and payment plans.

Gettysburg College will consider Income Reduction/Unusual Circumstances (PDF) at any time during the academic year as long as funds are available.

How do Gettysburg’s academic merit scholarships and need-based financial aid awards work together?

Here are a few examples of how Gettysburg’s need-based financial aid awards may be affected if a student receives an academic merit scholarship.

Academic merit scholarships are renewable each year, provided students must maintain the following cumulative GPA requirements: 2.75 after their first year and 3.0 afterwards.

Example 1: Student is eligible for a $20,000 Gettysburg College Grant (based upon financial need) and is awarded a $10,000 David Wills Scholarship.
Financial Aid Award will include:

$10,000 David Wills Scholarship
$10,000 Gettysburg College Grant

Example 2: Student is eligible for a $10,000 Gettysburg College Grant (based upon financial need) and is awarded a $15,000 Presidential Scholarship
Financial Aid Award will include:

$15,000 Presidential Scholarship

Please feel free to contact us with additional questions.